Match-box.



PATENTED MAY 8, 1906.

R'B'. WATSON.

MATCH-BOX.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 24. 190s.

P [NVE/WOR rfNiTnn sTATns PATENT OFFICE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed January 24, 1906.Serial No` 297,667.

Patented May 8, 1906.

To all wtmn it Wray con/cern: f

Be it known that I, FRANCIS B. WATSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Caldwell, in the county of Sumner and State of Kansas, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Match-Boxes, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to match-boxes, and has for its object theprovision of a device of this character adapted to be secured to a walland so constructed that but a single match can be removed at a time.

While the proprietors of cigar-stores desire to provide their patronswith matches, it has been found to be ractically impossible to keep amatch-box led if the patrons of the place were permitted free access tothe matches, this being due to the fact that each person who purchases acigar would take a dozen or more matches. The match-box forming thepresent invention is designed to limit the number of matches which maybe removed therefrom at one time.

A further object of the invention is the provision of improved means forpermitting access to be had to the interior of the matchbox when it isdesired to fill the same and the provision of a guard to limit themovement of the match-retaining springs, as will be hereinafter setforth.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in thedetailed description which now follows.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of amatch-box constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is afront elevation of said match-box. Fig. 3 is a transverse verticalsection of said match-box, showing the parts in position for fillingsaid match-box. Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section showing thematch box closed, and Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical section of thematch-box.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all of thefigures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 5 designates a rectangular casingcomprising side walls 6 and front and rear walls 7 and 8,

the lower portions of the front and rear walls tapering, as at 9, towardeach other and terminating upon each side of an opening 10, formed 1nthe bottom of the casing 5. Secured to the rear wall 8 are springs 11,the lower free ends of which extend across the opening 10. Secured tothe side Walls 6, as

.desired to secure the match-box to a wall.

at 12, and extending across the bottom of the casing below the opening10 is a guard-bar 13. An opening 14, formed in one of the side walls 6,is adapted to be closed by a slide 15, mounted in ways 16. The slide 15is provided with a rib 17, said rib serving to limit the upward movementof the slide by contacting with a cross-bar 16, which is looped aboutsaid slide and forms a keeper therefor.

Ears 19, secured to the rearwall 8, are perforated, as at 20, to provideopenings for screws or other fastening devices when it is A spring-plate21, having its outer free end 22 curved slightlyv upward, extends fromthe rear wall 6 and overhangs the top of the box. This spring-plateserves as a keeper for a filling-slide 2 f A knurled or roughenedplate25 is secured to the front wall 7 and provides a convenient surface uponwhich to scratch the matches.

The operation of this improved match-box is as follows: The casing 5having been secured to a wall or other support by means of screws passedthrough the perforations 20 of ears 19, the operator removes slide 23from beneath plate 21 and inserts it between the springs 1 1 and thebottom of the casing until it contacts with the rear walll 8, said slideserving to form a support for the matches while the box is being lled.The slide 15 is then raised andthe box filled throughV the opening 14.The slide 15 is then returned to its closed position and the slide 23withdrawn from above the springs and inserted beneath plate 21, as shownin Figs. 1 and 4.

If slide 23 were not provided to su 1port the matches while the box wasbeing ed, any pressure upon the top of the body of matches would forcesome of said matches past the springs 11, When the slide 23 is removedfrom the box, the matches drop until they contact with the springs 1 1.

The lower portions of the inclined walls 9 are cut away, as at 26, sothat the central part of the lowermost match may be engaged by the thumband forefinger of the person who desires to remove the match from thebox. When said match is pulled downwardly, the free ends of the springs11 give sufliciently to permit the match to be removed from the box, aswill be readily understood.

The guard-bar 13 serves to limit the move* ment of said springs andprevent them from being bent out of shape, said bar being pro- IIO videdwith a bowed portion 13 to permit of the ready grasping of the match.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that simple and eiiioientmeans are provided for accomplishing the objects of the invention; butwhile the elements shown and described are well adapted to serve thepurpose for which they are intended it is to be understood that theinvention is not limited to the precise construction set forth, butincludes within its purview such changes as may be made within the scopeof the appended claims. Y

Having thus described my invention, what I claim isl. A match-boXcomprising` a casing, the lower portions of the walls of which tapertoward each other, said walls having cut-away portions,retaining-springs carried by the inclined portion of one of said wallsand eX- tending across the bottom of the casing to a point adjacent thebottom ofthe other of said walls, and a guard-bar secured to the casingand extending therebelow in such position as to limit the movement ofthe retaining springs, said bar having an upwardly-bowed portion.

2. In a match-box the combination with a rece tacle of match-retainingsprings normally closing the bottom of said receptacle, and afilling-slide adapted to be inserted between said springs and the baseof the receptacle.

3. A match-box comprising a casing having an open bottom, springsspanning the bottom of said open casing, a filling-slide adapted to beinserted between said springs and the bottom of said casing to form atemporary bottom for the boX while the same is being filled, and aretaining spring-plate formed upon the boX and forming a keeper for theslide when said slide is not in use.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

FRANCIS B. WATSON. Witnesses E. L. HoBsoN, F. M. ETTER.

